Helen Cox's state-ranked girls basketball program is under investigation by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association in regards to the possible use on an ineligible player that could jeopardize the Lady Cougars' participation in the upcoming Class 4A state playoffs.

LHSAA Executive Director Kenny Henderson confirmed Thursday that the association is investigating Cox after receiving a report from another member school alleging the use of two ineligible players.

One of the two players already has been established as eligible by LHSAA compliance officer Joe Kleinpeter, who is handling the investigation, but further documentation is needed to determine the second player's eligibility.

In question is the association's "dual residence'' rule that prohibits the parents or legal guardian of student-athletes from maintaining multiple residences for the purposes of gaining athletic eligibility.

The Cox player still in question, who has not been identified publicly, is a freshman reserve who has played in every game, said Barbara Weary, Cox's athletic director and head girls basketball coach.

It is alleged that the player's family has residences in both the Cox and Ehret attendance zones, Henderson said, leaving the LHSAA to determine at which home the player resides.

If the player is found to be ineligible, Cox likely would have to forfeit all of its victories, be ruled ineligible for the playoffs, fined and likely placed on probation in the sport of girls basketball.

Cox owns a 23-6 record and 6-1 mark in District 9-4A and features one of the nation's top players in high-scoring senior guard Kuaneshia Baker, a LSU signee. Baker is averaging 22.4 points per game.

The Lady Cougars, who are 20-4 against Louisiana competition, are ranked No. 4 in the latest Class 4A state poll, No. 5 among Metro area large schools and are on pace to surpass the school record for victories set by last year's 26-6 team that advanced to the state quarterfinals.

Although Henderson initially indicated that he would like to issue a ruling by Thursday afternoon, due to the approaching start of the state playoffs in just over two weeks, he later said that more time and documentation from Cox and the player's family is required.

"We're going to do our due diligence on this,'' Henderson said. "I'm not going to rule somebody ineligible if I don't have to.

"I'm not going to be able to make a decision (Thursday) because there's not enough evidence to issue a ruling at this time,'' Henderson added. "What I see in this is so confusing that (Cox officials and the parents) are probably going to have to come to Baton Rouge (to the LHSAA office) so I can talk to them face to face. They'll have to bring me some more paper work. And that's probably won't happen until the beginning of next week.''

Kleinpeter has been at Cox the past two days and met Thursday with Weary and Jefferson Parish Public Schools Athletic Director Manny Barocco among others. Kleinpeter also visited the two family residences.

"What we're trying to do is find out which is the house of residence because there are clothes (of the player) in both of them,'' Henderson said.

But Cox school officials have been instructed by Edwards and Barocco to refrain from providing details or commenting on the situation and investigation until it is resolved.

"We're just going to try and remain positive and after all the facts are revealed, then we'll deal with the outcome,'' Weary said. "We just have to wait. We don't have a timeline. We're just going to take it step by step as it comes.''